Promoting Mental Well-Being Through Employee Assistance Programmes

Abstract

Mental health is increasingly being recognised as a critical component of employee well-being. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) provide a comprehensive range of services to corporations to enhance the mental well-being of employees, leading to greater productivity. Increased uptake of EAP services across industries in India over the past two decades clearly indicates the growing recognition of the value of such services. Is there a real need in India for mental health services or are EAPs more suited to a western context and typically introduced only in response to a global mandate? How do employees and organisations benefit from the introduction of an EAP? This article seeks to address these questions by examining mental health data and EAP utilisation trends in India. It also explores the business case for EAP, outlines the components of a comprehensive EAP and draws attention to the unique attributes that would make an EAP effective in the Indian context thereby providing a significant return on investment for the organisation.